ABSTRACT
While perhaps not garnering the attention of conditions like cancer or heart disease, or behavioral health conditions such as addiction and mental illness, obesity is emerging as a major health concern across the globe. While statistics vary, reports indicate that upwards of 2/3 of Americans can be considered overweight, while more than 30% can be labeled as obese. In recent years, obesity has become increasingly characterized as a chronic health condition, and as such, it is important to take a comprehensive, and long-term approach to care. Social workers should play a central role in reconfigured models of obesity care and given a growing recognition of this as an emerging social problem, such involvement is both needed, and appropriate.